EVANS, Charles 'Chuck'

Charles (Chuck) Evans, Ph.D., C. Psych., Partner at RHR International.

“I am afraid. Not of life, or death, or nothingness, but of wasting it as if I had never been.” (Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon)

…and so began Chuck’s quest for a life filled with meaning, for him to break free from an everyday-kind-of-existence and instead, experience that which was new and unknown.

Chuck was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, a town prosperous in 1955 as the second most important mill in Canada for the manufacture of iron and steel. He was raised a few blocks from the steel plant, the community’s sole economic provider. His father worked there. Later on Chuck did as well; hard, dirty work attending to the blast furnaces. The experience shaped his fascination with work, organizations, and the power of leadership. Lessons that Chuck carried with him for the rest of his life.

In the steel town, Chuck sought out experiences to feed his young spirit. He discovered a gift for the creative. He was an award-winning actor in his high school theatre productions. With $200 borrowed from his brother, he jumped at the chance to join a school trip that had him travelling to London, England, where he immersed himself in rich experiences for any wide-eyed, young lad, including – of course, taking in several stage productions at the Piccadilly Theatre. He learned guitar at the age of twelve and developed his love in music into a taste for a life on the road. He joined a rock band and played guitar in bars in small towns across Ontario and western Canada, including one memorable gig in Alert, Nunavut. He continued to develop his musical gifts throughout his life, becoming an incredible rock and jazz musician, music teacher, and occasional studio musician.

In 1983, Chuck took a chance at a second act. Emboldened by the idea that the life he sought required a higher education, he sold all of his earthly possessions, including his treasured Fender Stratocaster guitar in order to pay his way. He enrolled at the University of Ottawa as a mature student, then transferred to the University of Toronto in time to start his second year. As he’d tell the story, dumb luck propelled him to academic success. He hadn’t realized the requirements for the course selection process at U of T until it was too late. The only courses left for him to enrol in were in statistics and Fortran programming, topics daunting and completely foreign to him. With a drive seen countless times throughout his life, Chuck white-knuckled it through those courses with an aim to succeed. The adversity paid off and Chuck’s newfound expertise in scientific computing and stats sought the attention of faculty researchers. As he worked towards the completion of his B.Sc. Psychology degree (graduating with distinction), he was awarded a Natural Science & Engineering Research Council Industrial Research Grant (NSERC, 1986); he completed an M.A. and Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at the University of Guelph, in additional to countless academic awards and distinctions.

Highlights of his 25 years in leadership consulting include, most recently, Partner with RHR International, Assistant Dean and Executive Director for the Lang School’s internationally recognized MBA and MA leadership programs at the University of Guelph, and Managing Partner at Jackson Leadership Systems. Chuck also founded his own consulting firm (Evans Group), providing senior executives and boards with leadership assessments, succession planning, and team building both internationally and domestically. Chuck’s commitment to excellence in leadership made him a trusted advisor across industry sectors. His philosophy was that the path greatness is only ever along with others. He was respected for his bold, honest, and engaging style. He was also an active community member, recently ending his term at St. Joseph’s Hospital Centre Guelph’s Foundation Board.

Chuck continued to feed his soul throughout his life by nurturing his wanderlust. Determined not to spend his life reminiscing about the “good ol’ days”, he relished in experiencing anew and seeking out novel adventures: wild travels every 2-3 years with his best friend that included getting lost in Japan with barely more than a “kon'nichiwa”, “sumimasen” and obligatory Canadian apology (gomen'nasai) between the two of them; walking the Great Wall of China; almost rolling a jeep in the Australian outback; almost drowning while scuba diving in Cozumel; getting completely bored in Copenhagen; and tasting far more ports than advisable in Portugal. Intrepid adventures with family and friends included sailing the open seas; skiing Tremblant, Big White and Breckenridge; ziplining the Monteverde cloud forest in Costa Rica with his beloved daughter Anna; and journeys through Germany, Paris, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.

Sadly, it was only weeks before his next adventure - hot ballooning over the deserts around Dubai with his best friend - when Chuck found out about his diagnosis (myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)). Following a stem cell transplant, and despite early hopeful signs of a success, Dr. Charles (Chuck) Evans died on May 5th, 2022 in Hamilton, Ontario, at the age of 67.

He wasn’t done yet. But he did leave this great adventure with his loved ones at his side; with the tremendous support of all of his friends and peers; and with the same integrity, courage and humour with which he lived his great big life.

“...Don't feel sorry for me. I'm glad I had a second chance in life like you said to be smart because I learned a lot of things that I never knew were in this world, and I'm grateful I saw it even for a little bit.” (Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon)

Chucks loved ones recognize that not everyone is ready to attend public gatherings at this time, and know that you will honour Chuck in your own way.

For those who are comfortable doing so, we welcome you to visit and share memories about Chuck at Gilbert McIntyre & Son, Dublin Chapel, on Thursday, May 19, 7:00 - 9:00 pm.